text:
4/2 There's nothing like being a Cub
I've tried to explain to guys like Ian Stewart, David DeJesus, Chris Volstad what it's like to play at Wrigley and to be a Cub. You come into town and love playing at Wrigley but it's completely different when you're an actual Cub and have 39,000 cheering for you. It takes me back to some things that Derrek Lee was telling me when I first came in about the excitement and what Billy Williams has told me — there's nothing like being a Cub. You don't know until you actually put the uniform on and get to run out there and hear the fans cheering out there. I was explaining how I sort of salute left center field, center field and right center field, and I told them they need to come up with a salute or something to acknowledge the bleacher bums. It's one of those things that you can't explain that feeling until you're actually out there. These guys get to go through that this year.
This is going to be a hustling team. I've been on teams where my hustle stood out and it's not going to stand out on this team. That's a good thing. It shouldn't be that way; it shouldn't be, "That guy hustles, that guy hustles." You should say, "Oh, my gosh, that team is always coming. The Tampa Bay Rays, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Texas Rangers, the Philadelphia Phillies are always going hard. We're going to be that team, too.
I told those guys, being in Chicago, on and off the field, there's nothing like it.
— Marlon
30 Comments
Hi Marlon!
Good to hear from you again! I couldn't agree more. The one time my wife Taela and I went to Wrigley it was electric. Not because there was a thunder and lightning storm, but because the pennant race was in the air and there were a bunch of crazy drunkards out there paying absurd prices to cheer for the Cubs! I was there when the Cubs played the Pirates, but the Braves made a huge comeback against the Brewers that virtually sealed the division for you guys. It was pretty amazing when the entire stadium saw it go up on the scoreboard and started doing the Tomahawk Chop! Can you believe it?
I'll tell you what, Marlon, this weekend was tough to watch. I mean, first my son played in an indoor soccer game and there was this really obnoxious coach there. She's a middle-aged, overweight, long gray haired woman who instructs her kids to cherry pick because there are no off-sides rules. My son's team played with no substitutes because this woman was unwilling to play with 6 instead of 7 players. Late in the second half my son and another kid came together and both fell down. Then this girl on the other team toe punted my son square in the chest. Just a full on kick to the heart. I ran out there holding my 1 year old son and grabbed him up. You know what happened though, Marlon? That other coach never checked to see if he was ok despite the fact that she was on the field and close to the action. The girl that kicked him never apologized. These kinds of things make me mad, Marlon. Really mad. Then I had to watch the Timbers lose a 2-1 lead in the final minutes of their match or game or whatever it's called in soccer. They lost 3-2!
On my way to work a few days ago I followed a guy with a license plate that read "NYY FAN". What an idiot.
My wife Taela and our friends Jesse and Ildiko (do I really have a friend named "Ildiko"? Yes) went to a taping of Wheel of Fortune. We saw a lady win a LOT of money. Her son was this guy that looked exactly like Fat Albert…red sweater and everything. She introduced him on TV by the name of either "Goober" or "Gubert" I'm not sure which. Aren't you glad you're not a big fat guy named Goober? I know I am.
Can you believe the girl behind me had her feet on my seat and started wiggling them? Who does that, Marlon?
Well, my brother-in-law Andy and my sister-in-law Tara and their kids (names intentionally withheld) are probably coming over for Opening Day. We'll be watching on DVR delay so don't text me with a spoiler or anything.
I haven't written much on my blog lately, maybe because of Chuck Mraz's harsh rejection of it. Have you ever heard of a school called "Morehead State"? What a joke of name! If I ever had to be affiliated with that school I would look like such a joke! Can you imagine? Morehead State…what do they teach there? Hahahahahahahaha! I can't handle it, I'm going to laugh all afternoon!
Dude, take your ADHD medication and for Christ's sake get some sleep.
Hi Nick!
I have never taken Ritalin or Adderall, but I really could use a nap. I think it would look bad at the office though. Hey Nick…it's almost Opening Day! You should come watch the game with us. Remember it's on DVR delay…sorry!
Hey Keithman, way to have a comment that's longer than the blog post.
Hi Eric!
Marlon writes once every three weeks. A lot goes by in that amount of time. He's counting on me to keep him up to date. If not me, who?
what the hell did all that have to do with Marlon and the Cubs? lol
Hi Harold!
In this life we are all woven together in the interconnected web of humanity. It all has everything to do with Marlon and the Cubs! Except the part about the Yankees. They aren't part of humanity. They are robots and I hate them.
He's trying to be a comedian. I'd say to keep his day job.
Hi Chuck Mraz!
You will be glad to hear that I have not tendered my two week notice. I determined that making a living at replying to Marlon blog entries would be difficult and I have three kids and a wife at home, as you probably already know. Thank you for visiting my blog as those visits actually do provide some supplemental income. You're a good person despite the name calling and the overt narcissism. Enjoy Opening Day, but you're not invited to my house. My brother-in-law Andy has made a special brew just for the occassion! I hope it doesn't have any of the gasoline in it that spewed all over out of the lawn mower I gave him. Whoops!
Marlon, I always enjoy your words. Your playing style embodies what true Cubs fans value most. Hard work and hustle. There's a reason why Reed Johnson immediately became a fan favorite after almost breaking his neck diving into a wall — Cubs fans want to feel like you have as much invested in the team as we do, which is our collective hearts and souls. Keep it up, man. We've been waiting for a long, long time.
I have been a Cubs fan my whole life. I have seen countless teams that were supposed to be great fizzle as well as teams that just picked up the paycheck. I am the quintessential eternal optimist though and once again this years' team has my hopes sky high. The difference this year though is I don't expect the Cubs to win 100+ games this year but I do expect them to bust their asses trying to. It has been refreshing this spring to watch you guys play. GO CUBS!!!
I hear you marlon, bob brenly would always talk about "YOUR" hustle and it was easy to see. It'd be nice if we can watch the "WHOLE" team hustle as hard as you do. I didn't mind watching you ground out as aposed to guys like Aramis or Soriano, groundouts happen, the pitcher did his job, but when I see guys trotting over to first lazzily it rubs me wrong. I also like watching you hit home runs. You actually RUN the bases, no showboating, just acting like you've done it before. In the words of Barry Sanders, "act like you've been there before".
Good Stuff Marlon. You're an awesome role model and I couldn't be happier cheering for you now that you're in a Cubs uniform. Keep up the good work and I'll see you at Wrigley this summer! God Bless and Co Cubbies
Thank you Marlon. I am excited about this season, it looks like the team will be living up to it's surname and going with youth (cubs) instead of high priced individuals. Counting down the hours to opening day! GO CUBS!
Always liked this guy! I think he's the real team leader. He's a freakin class act and puts 110% in to everything he does. Great role model! Great Cub!
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I love watching you play and am looking forward to a hustling, fundamentally-sound Cubs team working together toward ONE GOAL, WINNING! Thank you for embracing Chicago, Wrigley, The Cubs & us crazy, hard-core fans!! We love you!
I'm like any other middle aged Cubs fan…passionate, committed and waiting for us to make the playoffs again! Lead them to the promise land! Win or lose, we still booze! Centerfield frenzy! GO CUBS, GO!!!!!
That's the attitude of a winner!
MB thanks for setting the tone with DD and the rest of the team.
See u out in right center on opening day.
Best of luck on a great season, you have given a great effort as a CUB!
The Byrdman is one of a kind in another respect: his hustle around the bases when he hits a dinger. So glad you are in a Cubs uni, Marlon. Have a great year and watch out for those high, hard ones. The Cubs can't afford to lose you and I don't want to see a game without the Byrdman in it.
We love you Byrdman! Can't wait to see you tomorrow!
Marlon, my prayers are with you. I had the honor to be in Mesa for Randy Hundley's fantasy baseball camp and you could feel the energy in the air now that Theo, Jed, and Dave are running the show. If everyone can stay healthy than we are going to be very, very competitive. I will be out there Saturday cheering you gentleman on. We also had an opportunity at the fantasy camp to meet and talk with all the cubs coming up the farm system and I know that our club is in very good hands in the future. All signs are pointing to the beginning of a World Series Dynasty. God bless… Tony "Mr. Huatulco" .
I hope to visit Wrigley someday, but at least my cable system has WGN and MLB network.
Goooo Cubs!!!!
you go Byrd you are the backbone of this team,you don't need to step-up, you are way pass that. YOU just keep doing what your doing, and THEY will follow. Have a GREAT year…….and have some fun out there !!!!!!!
Thanks Marlon for being so kind to the fans at Fitch Park again this year.
I would also add "There's nothing like being a Cougar" 🙂
Can you also send us all the necessary information to become one of your regular dealers in Europe and worldwide? Please, if you can email us your inventory, we would appreciate it. We are also very happy to receive any offers or suggestions for other available products (stocks and prices).


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| What? That can't be it! Where's the rest of it?
This page needs to be expanded in order to include more relevant information.
The Last Airbender Movie Novelization is an adaptation of The Last Airbender written by Michael Teitelbaum and released in May 25, 2010. It consists of 16 chapters plus a short Prologue and Epilogue, spread over 128 pages.
The Avatar Returns
The book begins with Katara and Sokka stepping out of their canoe onto an ice patch next to the small river they had been in. Katara attempts to waterbend, creating a small bubble that floats out of the river. However, she stumbles, and the water splashes Sokka. The two argue for a while before Sokka sees the tracks of a tiger seal. They start to follow it, when Katara notices a strange glow coming from the under the ice. Sokka strikes the ground with his boomerang. Cracks in the ice appear, and the two of them run away from the spiderweb of fractures. A huge ball of ice rises to the surface. Katara sees a boy and a large creature frozen inside. She opens it with the boomerang. Appa and Aang are found inside. Aang is barely conscious, so Katara and Sokka take him back to the tribe. There, Aang finally awakens. Sokka sees a Fire Nation warship heading toward the village, and he prepares the tribe for a battle.
The ship stops in the village. Prince Zuko walks out of it and into the village, proclaiming that he is the Prince of the Fire Nation. His soldiers break into the igloos and huts and capture all the elderly, including Katara's and Sokka's grandmother, to be taken prisoner by Zuko. Aang is found in one of the huts by a soldier. The soldier sees his tattoos, and he takes Aang to Zuko. Aang alone is taken aboard the ship. Katara and Sokka depart from the Water Tribe on Appa after the ship.
On the ship, Iroh places objects on a table in front of Aang. First, a flickering candle, which grows into a tall flame once in front of the airbender. Second, Iroh pours some water onto the table. The puddle shapes itself into a perfect circle. Third, a rock is placed in front of Aang at a precarious angle. The rock defies gravity and does not fall over. This involuntary control over the elements proves that Aang is the Avatar. Zuko tells him he is going to be kept prisoner, but Aang escapes easily using his glider. He meets up with Sokka, Katara, and Appa, and they begin to fly toward the Southern Air Temple.
The Southern Air Temple
At the temple, the group meets Momo, a "flying lemur bat". Soon after, Aang discovers that the Fire Nation had killed all the airbenders. He goes into the Avatar State out of rage and loss. He enters the Spirit World while in the state, and he meets a dragon. The dragon tells him that the human and Spirit World are in danger. Katara eventually manages to calm him enough that he drifts back out of the Avatar State.
On a Fire Nation vessel out at sea, a guard tells Commander Zhao that he has spotted Prince Zuko's ship. Zhao decides to invite him and Iroh to his ship for a meal. During the meal, Zhao cleverly taunts Zuko about playing with little girls when he was younger. He subsequently mocks him for believing the Avatar is still in existence. He reminds Zuko that he is not allowed to wear a soldier's uniform during his banishment. At this, Zuko leaves the ship.
In a forest in the Earth Kingdom, Aang confirms to Sokka and Katara that he is the Avatar. Just after, a boy runs out of the trees, Fire Nation soldiers after him. The soldiers tell them that he is being arrested for earthbending stones at them. Katara tries to stop them with waterbending, but fails, and the three of them (along with Momo) get arrested as well. They are all taken to a prison in a ruined Earth Kingdom village controlled by the Fire Nation. There, they are introduced to the boy's father. Aang, Katara, and the boy's father convince the earthbenders in the prison to break out. The group makes their way back to the forest.
In a small town in the Earth Kingdom, Kyoshi Village (taking the place of Kyoshi Island), Aang is told about Avatar Kyoshi by an old man. Aang realizes he has to master the other three elements, so he tells Sokka and Katara they must head toward the Northern Water Tribe.
In the Fire Lord's palace, Commander Zhao speaks with Fire Lord Ozai. He tells the Fire Lord about the Avatar, and the rebellions caused by him. After Zhao reveals he has visited the "Great Library", they decide to set a trap for the Avatar at the Northern Air Temple.
The Blue Spirit
Despite Sokka and Katara's warning of the Fire Nation, Aang departs on Appa from Team Avatar's campsite toward the Northern Air Temple. There, he meets an old man who takes him into the Avatar Sanctuary. After talking about Avatar Roku, hundreds of Fire Nation archers step into the room, their bows targeting Aang. One of the archers pays the old man for luring the Avatar into the room, and the man scurries away. Aang is chained in the prayer room of the temple. While inside, he reenters the Spirit World, and visits the dragon. It tells him that the Fire Nation has visited the library, and that they will attack the Northern Water Tribe. Aang must master waterbending and stop the Fire Nation at the North Pole.
At the camp where Katara and Sokka were staying, they are attacked by Fire Nation soldiers as they are unarmed. They are saved by the Kyoshi Warriors, who had been following them all this time. The warriors stay with the group until Aang returns.
As Aang wakes up from his journey into the Spirit World, Zhao taunts him about the death of his people and only being able to bend one element. After he leaves, a dark, mysterious figure in a mask, called the "Blue Spirit" by the guards, rescues Aang. After barely managing to escape the temple, the mysterious figure is shot in the mask with an arrow. Aang rescues him in turn, taking him away from the temple. The figure is revealed to be Zuko. After he regains consciousness, he immediately begins firebending at Aang. The airbender dashes away toward where he left Appa.
Differences between the novelization and the movie
The version of the movie the novelization was based on is estimated to be 20-30 minutes longer than the final cut, which may be what Shyamalan alluded to when he said in the NY Magazine Interview, "I'm dying to make a two-hour movie, I just haven't earned it yet." Moreover, story elements suggestive of Kataang was noticeably taken out in the movie, likely due to poor on-screen chemistry between Noah Ringer and Nicola Peltz during the test-screening. In general, the scenes and dialogue were trimmed here and there, mostly keeping the sentences that are necessary to convey the plot. Some of the longer dialogue can be heard in the Blu-ray/DVD documentaries, such as when Zuko said, "Don't even try to escape. This is a warship! The room is made entirely of impregnable metal. There are armed guards outside the room, and my uncle and I are expert firebenders." The movie cut the dialogue after "This is a warship!" Other than that, the key differences between the novelization and the movie include:
- Katara's opening narration is much more akin to the series, "The Boy in the Iceberg". This may refer to the original opening hinted in the trailers that was replaced with the text crawl.
- The story begins on an icy landscape with Sokka and Katara on boat, drifting in the river. The movie trimmed it after they stepped out with Katara already bending a water sphere.
- After they find Aang, they head back to boat and paddle back to their village. Glancing over his shoulder, Sokka notices Appa following them along the shoreline.
- In the village, Kanna tends to Aang as he recovers in her igloo. She subsequently goes outside to talk to Katara. The movie cut in when Katara entered the igloo to check on Aang and saw his tattoos.
- Aang and Katara's conversation is extended, with a brief discussion about Katara's necklace.
- When the Fire Nation arrives, Aang plays a game using small stones with the children in the igloo, presumably to keep them calm. Aang is about to start another game when the Fire Nation soldier steps into the igloo and takes him.
- The discussion between Katara, Kanna, and Sokka is much different (the final version was part of the re-shoots), and doesn't dwell on the Spirit World, but rather on Katara and Sokka needing to rescue Aang. During this scene, she also says the line from the trailer "He will need you, and we all need him."
- When Aang is reunited with Appa, Katara and Sokka, Sokka remarks that Grandma was right about him being an airbender, and Aang responds "We airbenders learn to feel the energy behind the wind, not just the breeze on our skin. It's all about controlling energy."
- The Dragon Spirit dialogue was changed for the final film "Avatar, the human world and the Spirit World are in danger. Where have you been? You may already be too late."
- When Aang exits the Spirit World, he collapses into Katara's arms.
- When Zhao mocks Zuko on the ship, he jokingly looks under the table and suggests that the Avatar has been hiding under there for a hundred years. Zuko snaps back that he has found him, but Zhao disregards him, believing him to be lying.
- Aang acknowledges to Sokka and Katara that he is the Avatar, before the Haru enters the scene. In the movie, it was confirmed to them when Aang announced he was the Avatar during the prison camp scene.
- After Aang took out the soldiers outside the prison camp, the movie added a scene where the villagers broke open a shed where the bending-related tools were kept and Momo knocked over a waterbending scroll. An elder villager showed Aang the statue of Avatar Kyoshi. As for the novelization, Aang and his friends take off with Appa and visit another village where he is greeted by the residents and finds the statue of Avatar Kyoshi; as an elder villager tells Aang who that statue represents. The villagers were inspired with the Avatar's return that they brought out earthbending robes and garments, and showed off some earthbending moves.
- In the movie, Aang revealed that he could not bend the other elements after Sokka suggested they visit other villages occupied by the Fire Nation, still in the first village. In the novelization, Sokka's initial suggestion was missing and the conversation took place after he ran from crowd near the Kyoshi statue and caught up with Sokka and Katara at the outskirts of the second village.
- When Aang said "they also told me that I couldn't have a family", the novelization added "They warned me never to fall in love." Thus, the movie is more ambiguous about "family", more about Aang being separated from Monk Gyatso and his friends, than serve as a Kataang supporting element.
- A portion of the deleted scene "Talk to the Dead" is in the novelization. There was the dancing with the villagers but no Aunt Wu. When it was time to leave, Sokka noticed the three mysterious figures, "draped in green cloaks and holding metal fans". Sokka said something that is not in the deleted scene: "What was that about? Does anyone else get the feeling that we're being watched?"
- Zhao's first dialogue in the story with Ozai is quite different. Zhao met with Ozai sitting on a bench looking the palace, and discussed about rumors of the Avatar returning before speaking about scrolls from the Great Library. Ozai wanted Zhao to take the threat of this "skinny boy" seriously as the Avatar would convince others that "the four elements are the same" and confine them to a "lower place, where fire will no longer be the dominant element". Zhao anticipated Aang will be at the Northern Air Temple to contact the Spirit World so he wanted to trap him there (instead of setting up trap at multiple locations). Ozai said Zuko deserved the opportunity to find the Avatar but Zhao and his army find him first, that will be simply his son's fate.
- After recounting Zuko's Agni ki Duel, Zuko asked the boy, "What would you feel if you were Prince Zuko?". The boy said he would be ashamed as he would have no honor.
- The scene where Aang and Katara were first practicing their waterbending at the brook where Sokka noticed the smoke from the Fire Nation soldiers following them was not mentioned, although there is a picture of Katara waterbending a blob of water at this brook, the movie only showed Katara practicing her waterbending forms without the water.
- Aang commented to Appa about the Fire Nation metal bridge at the Northern Air Temple, as it "wasn't there the last time I visited the place."
- Back at the campsite with Sokka and Katara, the entire Kyoshi Warriors scenes was cut from the movie.
- At the Northern Air Temple, the Dragon Spirit dialogue was different and extensive. He did not mention of his "vision of the moon turning red" but he did talk about the stolen knowledge from the Great Library and the danger to the Northern Water Tribe. When Aang said he would stop them, the Dragon Spriit said "I know you will try ... but it requires many, many years to master all the elements. The comet that gave the Fire Nation the power to start this war one hundred years ago will be returning in three years. It will once again give the firebenders the ability to use their chi to produce fire themselves, rather than just manipulate already existing fire. Every firebender will be able to create fire and use it against their enemies. if they have not been defeated by the day the comet returns, nothing will be able to stop them." He also gave his vision of the future: "I can tell you that the one called Katara will be very important to you ... but be careful your feelings and actions. You have struggled with this in all of your lifetimes, Avatar: the balance between your desire your love and family, and your responsibility to the world."
- At the Spirit Oasis, the Dragon Spirit dialogue and his advice to Aang were different: "You must show them the power of water. They have forgotten that all the elements are equal. That is why an Avatar must exist - to prove by your example that this is true." When Aang asked if he had to hurt the Fire Nation soldier, the Dragon Spirit said "You may have to hurt them." Before the Dragon flew off, Aang inquired further regarding his previous conversation with the Dragon Spirit about his friends and some struggles: "At some point you will have to make a difficult choice ... between Katara and being the Avatar."
- ↑ The Last Airbender Movie Novelization. Goodreads (May 25, 2010). Retrieved on May 10, 2020.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Alpha Genesis, Inc.
B-299859: Sep 12, 2007
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
(202) 512-8278
Kenneth E. Patton
(202) 512-8205
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
Alpha Genesis, Inc. (AGI) protests the award of a contract to Charles River Laboratories, Inc. (CRL) under request for proposals (RFP) No. NIAID-DIR-07-52, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for the maintenance of a free-range, island-based breeding colony of Rhesus monkeys and the transportation of the animals to NIAID and other facilities. AGI challenges various aspects of the agency's evaluation of its and the awardee's technical proposals and alleges that the awardee's proposal contains material contingencies that made its acceptance by the agency improper.
We deny the protest.
B-299859, Alpha Genesis, Inc., September 12, 2007
The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. This redacted version has been approved for public release.
Matter of: Alpha Genesis, Inc.
Richard Moorhouse, Esq., Dorn C. McGrath, III, Esq., and Sean M. Connolly, Esq., Greenberg Traurig, LLP, for the protester.
Daniel J. Kelly, Esq., and Gary J. Campbell, Esq., McCarter & English, LLP, for Charles River Laboratories, Inc., an intervenor.
Krystal A. Jordan, Esq., Department of Health and Human Services, for the agency.
Kenneth Kilgour, Esq., and Christine S. Melody, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision.
1. Protest challenging agency's technical evaluations is denied where the record supports the reasonableness of the evaluations and does not support the protester's allegation regarding inadequate discussions.
2. Protest that awardee's proposal contains material contingencies that make it improper for the agency to accept it is denied, where the record shows that the alleged contingencies concern a lease that the contractor was to obtain post-contract award and the acquisition of leased property for which the awardee had obtained a letter of commitment.
Alpha Genesis, Inc. (AGI) protests the award of a contract to Charles River Laboratories, Inc. (CRL) under request for proposals (RFP) No. NIAID-DIR-07-52, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for the maintenance of a free-range, island-based breeding colony of Rhesus monkeys and the transportation of the animals to NIAID and other facilities. AGI challenges various aspects of the agency's evaluation of its and the awardee's technical proposals and alleges that the awardee's proposal contains material contingencies that made its acceptance by the agency improper.
For 27 years, the protester and its predecessor company, as the incumbent contractor, have maintained a government-owned colony of Rhesus monkeys, used by NIAID, NIH, and other organizations for research purposes. The subject colony, which numbers approximately 3,000 monkeys, resides on
The agency issued the RFP for a cost-reimbursement contract on
The RFP specified that the technical evaluation committee (TEC) would use the following evaluation criteria when reviewing the offerors' technical proposals:
- Technical Capability
- Understanding of the scope of work and technical ability as evidenced by contractor's Facility Development Plan, Program Development Plan, and Colony Maintenance Plan.
- Availability and adequacy of facilities and equipment.
- Personnel Qualifications
Qualifications and experience of proposed personnel. . . .
- Corporate Experience
Offeror must demonstrate expertise and relevant experience in work on past or current contracts of similar nature and scope.[2]
- Past Performance
- Quality of Product/Service
- Cost Control
- Timeliness of Performance
- Business Relations
- Overall Satisfaction
RFP at 56-57. The RFP stated that all four technical factors were of equal importance; no weight was assigned to the subfactors for technical capability and past performance.
The RFP required the TEC to rate proposals under each evaluation factor using an adjectival rating system that, as relevant to this protest, included outstanding ([v]ery significantly exceeds most or all of solicitation requirements), good ([f]ully meets all solicitation requirements and exceeds many of the solicitation requirements), acceptable ([m]eets all solicitation requirements), and marginal ([l]ess than acceptable). Contracting Officer's Statement of Facts, attach. 1. For the evaluation of past performance, the RFP required that offerors provide a list of the last three contracts completed during the past 3 years and the last three contracts currently being performed that are similar in scope of work to the solicitation. RFP at 39. The RFP stated that the government would evaluate an offeror's past performance on information obtained from references provided by the offeror, other relevant past performance information obtained from sources known to the Government, and any information supplied by the offeror concerning problems encountered on the identified contracts and corrective action taken. RFP at 57.
With respect to the technical capability factor, the statement of work (SOW) required offers to include a Facility Development Plan that should demonstrate adequate and appropriate use of available resources for containing and housing animals in a free-range environment. RFP at 62. The SOW also required a Program Development Plan that should elucidate the contractor's plan to run the operation from a staffing, administration, supply and logistics standpoint.
The RFP was amended on January 23 by the addition of questions and answers, including the following:
Q1. Assuming that the incumbent currently maintains the colony at
, does this statement mean that incumbent is no longer interested in maintaining the colony, and the Contractor for NIAID-DIR-07-52 could take over the existing facilities under some sort of lease arrangement and maintain the colony in its current location instead of constructing new facilities in a different location? Morgan Island
A1. This is a full and open competitive solicitation. The successful offeror will be responsible for accepting the animal colony at its current location and arranging for a lease of the facility with [SCDNR].
Q4. What is the Government's role/involvement in assisting the contractor in procuring a lease of the
property? Morgan Island
A4. The Government is required to provide information and/or details to [SCDNR] regarding the award of any contract. The Government bears no responsibility in assisting the awardee with negotiating and/or executing a lease of the current facilities.
Q5. What is the Government's role/involvement in assisting the contactor in procuring the use of dock facilities?
A6. [sic] None. The offerors are solely responsible for negotiating a lease for adequate docking facilities.
Agency Report (AR), Tab II.B, Questions and Answers at 1.
AGI and CRL were the only offerors. In the initial evaluation of technical and business proposals, the agency rated AGI's technical capability as marginal, with an overall rating of marginal, and rated CRL's technical capability and its proposal overall as good. The TEC established a competitive range that included both offers and requested revised proposals from both offerors. With respect to concerns the agency had identified with AGI's Facility Development and Program Development Plans, and AGI's recent relocation of the docking facilities used to service the colony from its former location to
1. Please elucidate on your proposed future Facility and Program Development plans.
2. The decreased costs of relocating the dock facilities to
would appear to be countered by the increased distance to the Warsaw Island base site. The additional distance increases fuel expense, wear on boats and motors, and travel time for employees noted in your proposal as being on Morgan Island for 8 hours per day. It is possible to minimize the additional travel time by employees and increase in expenses by relocating to a closer facility? Morgan Island
AR, Tab V.A., Request for AGI's Revised Proposal at 5.
The agency posed the following technical question, among others, to CRL:
2. As previously stated in 'Answers to Questions' pertaining to this requirement, the contractor is solely responsible for securing a lease of
facilities within 60 days of contract award. Please explain how the Contractor proposes to negotiate with the [SCDNR] in order to secure the lease within the established timeframe without the government's assistance. Morgan Island
AR, Tab V.B., Request for CRL's Revised Proposal at 5.
After the final evaluations, AGI's proposal was rated marginal for technical capability and good for each of the other three factors, with an overall rating of acceptable. Aided by the strength of its Facility Development and Program Development Plans, CRL's proposal was rated outstanding for technical capability, and its overall rating was also outstanding. The following table summarizes the evaluation ratings.
Final Proposal Evaluation
Technical Capability
Personnel Qualifications
Corporate Experience
Past Performance
AGI's final proposed cost was $11,243,700, and CRL's was $12,607,669, a difference of $1,363,969 or just over 12 percent. After conducting a cost/technical trade-off analysis that documented the rationale for choosing the higher-cost proposal and the benefits that the agency would gain by doing so, NIAID made award to CRL.
During AGI's debriefing, NIAID advised the protester that its proposal had been rated marginal for technical capability because of three weaknesses. The agency evaluated AGI's proposed Facility Development Plan as lacking specifics on the life span and wear and tear on facilities and equipment, with a focus primarily on past improvements and a lack of details regarding what actions will be taken in the future. Similarly, the proposed Program Development Plan, in the agency's judgment, relied on historical operation and provided minimal detail on future activities. Finally, the agency evaluated the proposal as failing to adequately address the issue of the likely increase in costs associated with the
Evaluation of Protester's Technical Capability
The protester challenges NIAID's marginal rating of its technical proposal under the technical capability factor. With respect to the criticism that its Facility Development and Program Development Plans focused more on past performance than future plans, the protester argues that it naturally included in its proposal recent developments and improvements it instituted at Morgan Island, considering them logically relate[d] to planned future efforts. In reviewing protests alleging improper evaluation of proposals, our Office will examine the record to determine whether the agency's judgments were reasonable and in accordance with the solicitation criteria, as well as with applicable statutes and regulations. Verizon Fed., Inc., B-293527,
Further, while the protester asserts that there are no appreciable or material difference[s] between the Facility Development Plans of the protester and the awardee, Protester's Comments on AR at 7, the record does not support that assertion. The determination of the relative merits of proposals is primarily a matter of agency discretion, which we will not disturb unless it is shown to be without a reasonable basis or inconsistent with the stated evaluation criteria and applicable statutes and regulations. Madico, Inc., B-280003,
The RFP required offerors to present their technical proposals in as much detail as [they] consider[ed] necessary to fully explain [their] proposed technical approach or method. RFP at 40. The protester's proposal recounts, in some detail, the projects that have been completed in the past in the fulfillment of the contract. By contrast, the awardee's proposal includes a Facility Development Plan that, in the agency's estimation, would maintain the [DELETED] in usable condition, and includes a [DELETED] of facility and equipment [DELETED]. The awardee's plan includes a number of features that the agency favorably evaluated and that the protester's plan lacks, including the [DELETED] to be maintained; the proposed addition of a [DELETED] to the existing facilities; and the [DELETED] of the awardee's own [DELETED] facility. The awardee's proposal contains a similarly detailed Program Development Plan that includes [DELETED],[3] [DELETED], [DELETED], and [DELETED], among other innovations. In contrast, the protester, in its revised proposal, offered little of substance to augment the Program Development Plan included in its initial proposal. See AR, Tab VI.A, Protester's Revised Proposal at 2. We find nothing unreasonable in the agency's evaluation of the protester's Facility Development and Program Development Plans.
In evaluating AGI's technical proposal, the agency took specific issue with the proposal's rationale for the relocation of the docking facilities to
[r]eplacement of the previous dock location was imperative. . . . Failure to act in a responsible manner could have jeopardized the future of the project. Residential and commercial zoning restrictions, residential development of deep water properties throughout the
, and public access concerns make . . . [the previous site] unsuitable for this unique and sensitive project. ACE Basin
AR, Tab VI.A., Protester's Revised Proposal at 2-3. The protester also asserted that existing vandalism and other concerns would be exacerbated by the site owner's plans to build a restaurant. Furthermore, the protester argued that it had not experienced any increase in costs or loss of efficiency in the past year that the
The agency rejected this argument, stating that it did not understand why increasing the distance from the dock to the island would not increase costs based on additional fuel and wear and tear on the boats alone, or how, based on the information supplied by the protester, the replacement of the previous dock location was imperative. AR, Tab VII.A., Technical Evaluation of Protester's Proposal at 2. The agency concluded that the protester's response was long on rationale for the move but devoid of any specifics on relative costs. The protester's challenge to the agency's evaluation amounts to mere disagreement, and a protester's mere disagreement with the agency's judgment does not establish that the evaluation was unreasonable. JAVIS Automation & Eng'g, Inc., B-293235.6,
The protester also alleges that, to the extent the agency's failure to ask the protester for exact amount[s] concerning the costs of the dock relocation resulted in the protester's materially downgraded Technical Capability rating, the Agency violated FAR [sect.] 15.306(d) by not conducting meaningful discussions. Protest at 9. We disagree.
In order for discussions in a negotiated procurement to be meaningful, an agency must advise the offeror of the deficiencies in its proposal, so that the offeror may have an opportunity to revise its proposal to satisfy the government's requirements. Pan Am World Servs., Inc. et al., B-231840 et al.,
Evaluation of the Awardee's Corporate Experience
The protester challenges the agency's evaluation of CRL's proposal under the corporate experience factor.[5] As part of CRL's discussion of its general experience, its proposal included this statement:
AR, Tab B2.B(2), CRL's Proposal at 16. In rating CRL outstanding for corporate experience, the agency relied, in part, on CRL's experience running the Key Lois colonies, the [DELETED] experience that CRL has had operating island-based, free-range, non-human primate colonies. The record contains evidence that the monkeys in the CRL colonies on Key Lois, newly arrived in
The protester argues the agency was required to conduct the research necessary to uncover the difficulties that CRL encountered at Key Lois, and that it was unreasonable for the agency to award CRL a corporate experience rating of outstanding in light of the information that the agency should have considered.[6] We disagree. An agency has discretion as to how to define RFP requirements, see Vertrol, Sys. Co., Inc., B-293644.4 et al.,
The protester raises two issues with respect to the lease of
The protester also argues that the agency failed to evaluate the acquisition of a lease as either a strength or a weakness at all for any offeror, contrary to the specific provisions of the SOW and Section M, Evaluation Factors for Award, of the Solicitation.[9] Protester's Response to Agency's Motion to Dismiss at 4. The SOW states that the Contractor shall be responsible for accepting the colony at the designated site and arranging for the lease of the facility. AR, Tab I.B, SOW at 1. As noted above, one evaluation criterion under the technical capability factor is the [a]vailability and adequacy of facilities and equipment.[10] RFP at 57. These provisions do not require the acquisition of a lease for
Material Contingencies
The protester also asserts that, because CRL's proposal contains material contingencies and reservations, it was improper for the agency to accept the proposal. Protester's Response to Agency's Motion to Dismiss at 5. At issue are these paragraphs labeled Advanced Understandings and Requested Conditions in CRL's proposal:
AR, Tab B2.B(2), CRL Proposal at 50. The introduction to these paragraphs states that CRL respectfully requests that our Proposal be viewed subject to the following understandings and conditions.
In negotiated procurements, any proposal that is expressly conditioned upon the agency's acceptance of terms and conditions that take material exception to the terms of the solicitation should be considered unacceptable and may not form the basis for an award. Sonshine Enters., B-246268,
The protester also asserts that the awardee made its offer contingent on its ability to secure the lease of necessary docking facilities and that there was no indication in the agency report that the awardee has been able to secure such a lease. A requirement that offerors have dedicated facilities in place at the time of contract award can be met by offerors who have leases that are contingent upon receipt of the contract. See University Research Corp., B-216461,
The protest is denied.
Gary L. Kepplinger
General Counsel
[1] The protester's recently renewed lease for the island ends on
[2] Elsewhere, the RFP stated that [o]rganizational experience is defined as the accomplishment of work, either past or on-going, which is comparable or related to the effort required by this RFP. This includes overall offeror or corporate experience. RFP at 52.
[3] The protester asserts that because the [DELETED] was not reasonably embraced by the stated contract requirements and evaluation criteria, Protester's Comments on AR at 8, it was inappropriate for the agency to credit the awardee's proposal for proposing this [DELETED]. We disagree. By definition, as noted above, to be rated better than acceptable in any of the four technical evaluation criteria an offeror's proposal was required to exceed the solicitation requirements. Here, the awardee proposed to supply a [DELETED]--a proposal feature that exceeds the RFP requirements--and we see nothing improper in the agency's favorable evaluation of that aspect of the proposal.
[4] In its initial protest, the protester also challenged the good rating its proposal received under the three other technical evaluation factors, stating that it would supplement this ground of protest once additional facts are learned from the agency report as appropriate. Protest at 10. The protester's sole supplemental assertion is that it should not have been rated merely good for past performance because the agency introduced no evidence of unsatisfactory performance by the protester on the incumbent contract. We find that argument without merit. There was no showing that the good rating was not reasonable, and the mere absence of unsatisfactory performance could have resulted in a rating as low as acceptable, and the protester's proposal was rated good.
[5] In its protest, AGI also asserts that the agency improperly evaluated the awardee's past performance, in that the agency ignored CRL's alleged shortcomings in administering the Key Lois colonies. The awardee's maintenance of the Key Lois colonies was properly not considered as part of the awardee's past performance; as noted above, past performance included an evaluation of contracts submitted by the offeror that had been performed in the past 3 years. CRL concluded its maintenance of the Key Lois colonies more than 3 years ago and did not offer its performance at Key Lois--which was not a contract but a private venture--as a past performance reference.
[6] The protester also alleges that the agency could not properly rate the awardee's technical proposal higher than the protester's, when the awardee has never managed the subject colony. The evaluation criteria did not require experience managing the
[7] For example, a solicitation may require the agency to evaluate the extent, depth, and quality of corporate experience. JWK Int'l, B'256609.4,
[8] Because we find that the agency reasonably evaluated both offerors' technical proposals, we need not consider the protester's allegation that a proper technical evaluation would have produced a score for AGI that was at least as good as that for CRL, and that AGI, with the lower-cost proposal, would have been the clear choice for contract award. Where, as here, a solicitation emphasizes the significantly greater importance of technical factors over price, an agency has considerable discretion to award to an offeror with a higher technical rating and a higher cost. WPI, B'288998.4, B-288998.5,
[9] [T]he government did not evaluate the acquisition of the lease as a strength or a weakness for any offeror. Contracting Offeror's Statement of Facts at 9.
[10] The presolicitation notice stated that the agency would evaluate an offeror's ability to provide adequate facilities and equipment including securing a lease of the current colony site. AR, Tab I.E, Presolicitation Notice at 2. To the extent that the protester's argument relies on that language, see Protest at 10, its argument is legally flawed. Acquisition of the lease by an offeror was clearly eliminated as an evaluation criterion when the agency published the RFP; when the terms of an RFP conflict with the presolicitation notice, the RFP controls. See Hung Myung (
Sep 28, 2020
Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc.
We sustain the protest.
Sep 25, 2020
ICI Services Corporation
We dismiss the protest.
Sep 24, 2020
Pacific Dredge and Construction, LLC
We deny the protest.
Sep 23, 2020
Candor Solutions, LLC
We dismiss the protest because the protester's allegations are untimely.
Sep 22, 2020
Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA, Inc.
We deny the protest.
Sep 17, 2020
Sep 16, 2020
Sumaria Systems, Inc.
We deny the protest.
We deny the protest.
Sep 15, 2020
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MadDemiurg wrote:Actually, I think holofields do help vs novas on TT. And yes, it's an Ahriman avatar .
yeah the eldar rolled once to ignore a nova cannon blast or similar the only thing it couldn't ignore was the Armageddon gun and warp cannon
A suggested changed for the eldar is to just give them better armour, wraithbone isn't that fragile since it's used in the construction of their heaviest armour and vehicles on ground.


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The John Hancock Companies have been hit with a class action lawsuit regarding their life insurance death benefit payments policy.
The lawsuit is a new turn in an investigation of insurance companies by an outside auditing firm that began in 2008, in an attempt to resolve a disparity between the practices insurers use in dealing with paying death benefits on life insurance policies to beneficiaries and those they use to stop payments on living benefit annuities.
Besides Hancock, states have settled with MetLife, Prudential, AIG and Nationwide.
Other insurers declined to comment, but outside counsel to several insurers involved in the probe privately acknowledged concern that the latest development could represent a new escalation of the unclaimed property practices of insurers.
State insurance regulators have already acknowledged that 42 insurers that market nationwide are the targets of the probe.
Besides the five largest insurers, the audits are now underway at medium-sized insurers, the lawyers acknowledged.
The probe was initiated by California Comptroller John Chiang, who used an outside auditing firm based in Connecticut that used its own software to examine the payment practices of 21 life insurance companies nationwide.
The premise behind the lawsuit was that Hancock and the other insurers used the Social Security Death Master File to routinely determine whether insureds with living benefit riders to annuities had died, and acted promptly to stop payments when an annuitant died. However, the DMF and other means were not used as frequently to ensure that beneficiaries of life insurance policies were promptly notified that a relative with a life insurance policy had died, and the funds paid.
In the case of the latest lawsuit, the lead plaintiff claims that he was notified only in 2010, four years after the death of the insured, and then only by the state of Illinois Treasurer's Office. He received only a small sum, and it was only in June 2012 that a larger sum was remitted, without detailed explanation.
Hancock reached its own settlement with Chiang in April 2011, and another settlement with a number of state insurance agencies in November of last year. The latest settlement expands on what John Hancock must do to comply with state regulations regarding unclaimed property. It also imposed a $3.3 million fine that is being divided up between the states.
John Hancock, based in Boston, is a unit of Manulife Insurance Financial Corp., Toronto.
A spokesman for the company in Boston said in response to the suit that, "It is company policy not to comment on matters in litigation."
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in federal district court in Boston. The suit was filed by Swartz & Swartz P.C. in Boston and named Richard Feingold of Lake County, Ill., as the named plaintiff.
According to the filing, the lawsuit "arises from Defendants' pattern and practice of avoiding payment of life insurance policy death benefits that are owed to beneficiaries."
It seeks damages for Feingold and others who did not find out until years later that their relatives had purchased life insurance policies from John Hancock for which they were the beneficiary.
The lawyer who filed the lawsuit at Swartz & Swartz, Alan Cantor, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
The lawsuit was likely prompted by the settlement John Hancock reached last November regarding its unclaimed property policies with the insurance departments of six states.
The audit turned up a widespread practice of companies failing to pay beneficiaries off with insurance policies. Rather, the companies in many cases drew down cash reserves in the policies to continue collecting premium payments from the deceased. Once reserves are gone, the companies cancel the policy. The audit found companies did not routinely check dormant accounts against lists of deceased. In other cases, the companies knew the policyholder had died, but the companies didn't notify beneficiaries.
According to the lawsuit, Feingold was the beneficiary of a life insurance policy purchased in 1945 by his mother, Mollie.
She died in 2006, but he learned that she had the policy only in 2010, through a website on unclaimed property that said he was owed $459.
According to the lawsuit, he took that money, but only received an additional $1,349.71 "without explanation as to why this money was not escheated to the state of Illinois when the dividend monies were escheated, or explaining with any degree of certainty what the check was for."
The suit also alleges that Feinberg "never received a copy of the insurance policy, never received an explanation or accounting for the amount paid to him of $1,349.71, never received an explanation of why the $459 was escheated to the State but the $1,349.71 was not, and never received an explanation of why the information forming the basis to stop making dividend payments was not shared to effect the life insurance policy benefits."
According to officials at the California Insurance Department, 53 jurisdictions adopted the settlement, including D.C. and all states except New York and Minnesota.
The territories that signed on include: Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.


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With the winds of anti-government sentiment spreading across the Middle East, Al Jazeera's leak of the Palestine papers this week threatened to undermine the increasingly weak Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas.
The news channel's exposé of far-reaching Palestinian peace concessions to Israel on Jerusalem, refugees, and borders failed to spark outward public outrage, spurring relief among President Abbas' aides. But the muted response of everyone from shopkeepers and businessmen in the West Bank belies a deeper erosion of support for Mr. Abbas, who has staked his career on negotiating peace with Israel.
While the West has embraced Abbas's willingness to make concessions such as those outlined in the recently leaked documents, he has struggled to gain the same credibility in Palestinian eyes as his predecessor Yasser Arafat, the revolutionary guerrilla who fought for a Palestinian state for decades.
Even if he were able to arrive at a peace deal with Israel, his limited street credibility – dented further by the Al Jazeera leak – calls into question his ability to make it stick with people like Ali Ahmed, a grocery shop owner in Ramallah.
"No one has given the Jews as much as [Abbas] gave them in land, in borders and security,'' says Mr. Ahmed. "He gave a lot and gave up the struggle.''
Fewer than 1 in 3 Palestinians support peace talks
After nearly two decades of peace talks failed to yield a state, Palestinians are growing weary of negotiations. Only 27 percent believe there will be a state in five years, according to a December survey by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. That skepticism prompted Abbas to boycott talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he refused to freeze Israeli settlements.
The failure of the peace process weakens Abbas and his Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority government against Hamas, the Islamic militant group that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007.
The ongoing rift has delayed national elections and fueled an atmosphere of political intimidation: In the same survey, only 27 percent said that West Bankers can criticize the authorities without fear.
Though the Al Jazeera scoop focused mainly on peace talks from 2008, it is liable to erode the public credibility of the Palestinian government in Ramallah, analysts say.
"This is going to have long-term ramifications for the Palestinian leadership because the legitimacy is already in question,'' says Sam Bahour, a Ramallah-based businessman and political analyst, "and this is only reinforcing that legitimacy crisis.''
Al Jazeera attack on Abbas?
The Palestinian official reaction has been muddled and defensive. At first officials said the documents were fabricated. Later some officials vouched for the documents, but said that they had been taken out of context by Al Jazeera. Some officials said that the positions detailed in the documents reveal nothing new. They also accused Al Jazeera of serving the agenda of both Hamas and Israel.
In a frenzied appearance Wednesday night on Al Jazeera, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat accused the news channel of slandering him as a collaborator with Israel.
While many Palestinians sided with their leaders, seeing the exposé as an intentional attempt to undermine Fatah, in private many assailed the government for being overly generous to Israel and getting little in return.
"People understand this is an attack, but it is still manipulating minds," says Dalal Salameh, a former legislator from Abbas' Fatah party who came to party headquarters this week to implore Fatah leaders to begin stumping to offset any public backslash. "We want to avoid damage of trust in their leaders and in the opportunities of the negotiations.''
Indeed, the wide gap between the concessions detailed in the Al Jazeera documents and Palestinians' public statements on the heavily symbolic issues risks further erosion of support for President Abbas and the peace talks, say activists and analysts.
'What happened in Tunis will happen here'
To be sure, in public opinion polls, Abbas' approval rating surpasses 50 percent, and he defeats Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh by more than 10 percent. Fatah still beats Hamas as well. But Abbas has never been a man of the masses, and Fatah is viewed as largely corrupt.
In Ramallah's Al Amari refugee camp, an archway marking the entrance of the district declares the camp the "fortress'' of Abbas, but locals ridicule the tribute as evidence of Fatah payoffs.
Down the road at the Amari café, the Al Jazeera reports served as fodder for a debate between Fayez Isaili and his co-proprietor Jamal Abu Rub.
"Abbas has conceded a long time ago'' to Israel, Isaili said. "What happened in Tunis will happen here," he said referring to the street protests in Tunisia.
But Mr. Abu Rub insists that Abbas would resist pressures to make compromises in the negotiations. "Abu Mazen is following in the footsteps of Arafat. Like Arafat he will not concede.''
'We have no other leaders'
Much of the Palestinian discussion focused on Al Jazeera's coverage of the leaks rather than their substance: concessions on Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem and the right of return for more than a million refugees whose families fled or were forced out of Israel in the war that gave birth to the Jewish states. Those issues are so laden with symbolic weight that many are reluctant to discuss pragmatic compromises that must be at the centerpiece of any peace treaty.
Back in the refugee camp, Fatma Memousa, whose family is originally from Lod, Israel, said she was opposed to Abbas' remark in one document saying the return of millions of refugees to Israel is unrealistic. "[Abbas'] credibility has been shaken on the Palestinian street, but we shouldn't attack him because we have no other leaders.''
And in a produce shop a few feet away, Samara Mahmoud, a teacher who wore a black robe and head covering, was also sympathetic toward Abbas but disagreed with his eschewing of violence – illustrating the dangerous alternative if Abbas's commitment to peace talks fails to bear fruit.
"Why are people unfair to Abu Mazen? Would anyone else be more successful?'' she asks, before adding: "Negotiations are not the solution. An intifada is the only solution."


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The rights to the franchise have been sold, installments five and six have been outlined, people want to direct the next so bad they're going to court and still others are thinking that maybe the Terminator should take a mulligan.
On Monday it was announced that Santa Barbara-based hedge fund Pacificor had bought the rights to "Terminator" for $29.5 million from Halcyon, the same company to whom they had lent $30 million in 2007 to buy the Terminator rights, reported Deadline Hollywood.
If you suffered through the last two "Terminators," "Rise of the Machines" or "Salvation," you know that something needed to be done to breathe new life into this foundering saga.
U.S. & World
Stories that affect your life across the U.S. and around the world.
But, lo! McG, the man who helmed the unfortunate "Salvation," would have none of it and went to court to demand that Pacificor be forced to honor his right of first refusal to direct the next Terminator movie, reported the Los Angeles Times. Mercifully, the judge mustered all the wisdom of Solomon (and possibly his own memories of "Salvation") in ruling that the best McG could hope for was a suit against Halcyon. Phew.
Later this week came the good news that William Wisher, who helped James Cameron write the first two films, has penned a 24-page treatment for No. 5 and a 4-page outline for No. 6, both of which are said to be promising.
And in this, the year that "reboot" has become the No. 1 Hollywood buzzword, there's the possibility of starting from scratch, which Cinematical sees as (depressingly) inevitable.
Could we please just back up a truck full of cash to Cameron's house and ask him very nicely to give the world the 4D, Sensurround extravaganza we all desperately want? Starring the future ex-governor of California, maybe?


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- What Is Elvitegravir?
- Who Should Take It?
- What About Drug Resistance?
- How Is Elvitegravir Taken?
- What Are the Side Effects?
- How Does It React With Other Drugs?
- The Bottom Line
What Is Elvitegravir?
Elvitegravir (also known as GS-9137) is a drug used for antiviral therapy against HIV. It is manufactured by Gilead.
Elvitegravir is the second "integrase inhibitor" drug. When HIV infects a cell, it combines its genetic code into the cell's own code. This is shown in Fact Sheet 106, step 5. Elvitegravir blocks this process. When elvitegravir blocks integration, HIV infects a cell but cannot make more copies of itself.
Who Should Take It?
Elvitegravir was approved in 2012 as an antiviral drug against HIV as part of the combination antiretroviral (ARV) Stribild (see Fact Sheet 472) and was approved in 2014 as Vitekta in combination with ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors for use in treatment-experienced adults.
Vitekta must be taken in combination with a protease inhibitor together with ritonavir and another ARV.
Stribild is approved for treatment-naïve patients – those who have not yet started treatment. Gilead has asked the FDA to approve elvitegravir for use by patients who have already taken HIV medications.
While antiretroviral therapy (ART) is now recommended for all people living with HIV, there are no absolute rules about when to start antiviral drugs. You and your health care provider should consider your CD4 cell count (see Fact Sheet 124), your viral load (see Fact Sheet 125), any symptoms you are having, and your attitude about taking HIV medications. Fact Sheet 404has more information about guidelines for the use of antiviral medications.
What About Drug Resistance?
HIV is sloppy when it makes copies of its genetic code (RNA). Many new copies of HIV are mutations: they are slightly different from the original virus. Some mutations can continue to multiply even when you are taking an antiviral drug. When this happens, the drug will stop working. This is called "developing resistance" to the drug. See Fact Sheet 126 for more information on resistance.
Elvitegravir has shown activity against HIV that already has resistance to several other HIV medications.
Resistance to elvitegravir is not yet well understood. Sometimes, if you develop resistance to one drug, you will also have resistance to other antiviral drugs. This is called "cross-resistance". Because elvitegravir is in a new class of antiviral drugs, it has no cross resistance with antiviral drugs in older classes. However, cross-resistance is expected between raltegravir (Isentress, see Fact Sheet 465) and elvitegravir.
With combination therapy (taking more than one antiviral drug at the same time), HIV mutates much more slowly. Resistance takes longer to develop. It is very important to take antiviral medications according to instructions, on schedule, and not to skip or reduce doses.
How Is Elvitegravir Taken?
Elvitegravir is taken as one 85 mg or once daily for people taking atazanavir (see Fact Sheet 447) or lopinavir (Kaletra, see Fact Sheet 446). Elvitegravir is taken as one 150 mg tablet, once daily for people takine darunavir, fosamprenavir or tipranavir (see Fact Sheets 450, 448, 449).
Elvitegravir is also included in Stribild as 150 mg once daily boosted with cobicistat 150 mg.
Elvitegravir should be taken with food.
What Are the Side Effects?
In clinical trials, the most common side effects in people taking elvitegravir were diarrhea, nausea, and headache.
How Does It React With Other Drugs?
Elvitegravir has been studied to see if it interacts with other drugs. Antacids can lower elvitegravir blood levels and should be taken at least 2 hours apart.
When taken with protease inhibitors, elvitegravir lowers the blood levels of oral birth control medications. Alternative methods of birth control are recommended.
Rifampin, used to treat tuberculosis (see Fact Sheet 518) decreases blood levels of elvitegravir. Other tuberculosis medications may also interact with elvitegravir.
Elvitegravir has not been studied with all medicines, over-the-counter drugs or vitamin or herbal supplements. Studies are underway. Be sure your doctor knows about all medications and supplements that you are taking.
The Bottom Line
Elvitegravir is the second drug in a new class, integrase inhibitors. It has not yet been approved by itself. However, it is part of the approved combination medication Stribild. It stops HIV from inserting its genetic code into an infected cell. This prevents the virus from making new copies of HIV. Elvitegravir helps control HIV, even when it is resistant to other medications.


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News of the Midwest Jesuits
Pope Francis Initiates Global Effort to Combat Hunger.
Today, Pope Francis launched the One Human Family, Food for All campaign as parishes, schools and communities initiated a wave by prayer starting at noon...
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Missouri Province Celebrates 150 Years of Service
December 3, 2013 — Today, on the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, the Missouri Province of the Society of Jesus celebrates its 150th anniversary.
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A Jesuit's Journey:
Fr. Jack Wambach, SJ
November 26, 2013 — "It's not how much you do, but who you are, that's important." This was a hard lesson for Fr. John "Jack" Wambach, SJ, to learn.
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New Video Series Explores Jesuit Vocations
November 22, 2013 — The Loyola Productions video series "What is a Jesuit Vocation?" gives insight into how six Jesuits came to find their vocation in the Society of Jesus.
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Jesuit Father Fred Green Wins Peruvian Peace Prize
November 20, 2013 — Jesuit Father Fred Green, who has devoted over 50 years to improving education in Peru, was awarded the 2013 Peruvian Ministry for Women and Vulnerable Populations Peace Prize.
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Philippines Jesuit Organization Working to Deliver Aid to Typhoon Victims
November 19, 2013 — The Jesuit-run SLB, a social justice organization in the Philippines, has been working to make and transport thousands of relief packages in the week since Typhoon Haiyan.
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Jesuit Reports from the Philippines on Devastation Following Typhoon Haiyan
November 15, 2013 — Jesuit Father Charlie Cenzon reports from the Philippines on the devastation and relief efforts in the country following Typhoon Haiyan.
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Jesuits Appeal for Assistance for Victims of Typhoon Haiyan
November 14, 2013 — Super Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines on Nov. 8, has left areas of the country devastated with untold dead and millions without access to necessities.
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In Memoriam: Fr. Robert C. Dressman, SJ
Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of our brother,
Fr. Robert C. Dressman, S.J. (CDT)
, who died at 6:45 a.m. on Tuesday, October 22, 2013, at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan. May he rest in peace.
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In Memoriam: Fr. Herbert J. Raterman, SJ
A native of Cincinnati, Father Raterman attended Holy Family grammar and middle school before attending Elder High in Cincinnati for two years. After completing two years at Elder High, Fr. Raterman transferred to St. Xavier High where he graduated in 1942. His time at St. Xavier started him down the path to becoming a Jesuit, and he quickly entered the novitiate in Milford, Ohio, in 1942.
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Grace McGrath - Living the Jesuit Mission
Early in 2013, Grace McGrath realized a long-held dream to visit India. While gaining even more than she imagined possible, she also discovered a new dream: to support the work of Jesuits educating poor (often orphaned) children living in the northeastern part of the country.
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The Stages of Jesuit Formation
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Brian G. Paulson, SJ, Named Next Provincial for Chicago-Detroit Province
Brian G. Paulson will begin his tenure as provincial of the Chicago-Detroit Province on June 19, 2014. In preparation for this mission, Brian will take a sabbatical from February 14 until June 19, 2014. While Brian is on sabbatical, Kevin H. Flaherty will be the acting rector of the Loyola University Chicago Jesuit Community until Father General names a new rector for the community and a date is established for his term.
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A Heart on Fire: Michael Rossmann, SJ
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This page provides hashtags, wiki & search data, images and meanings of the abbreviation VWBGT. Below, you also find the detailed meaning of each letter in the VWBGT acronym.
Log in Sign up You are on Twitter Mobile because you are using an old version of Firefox. Learn more here Search Refresh Enter a topic, @name, or fullname DorisAlexa @DorisAlexa2 13 May 15 Commensurate temblor redemption get ready calaboose work for with prepotent turnaround: vWBGt View details · Bon Voyaged @BonVoyaged_ Aug 28 Quiz: Can You Identify These Historical Figures Promoted by Bon Voyaged View details · ShankLake @ShankLake 21 May 15 Tempo Traveller Hire - The like of Your Travel Much Comfortable And Easy...VwBgt View details · shane @ninashane2 19 Nov 13 Linguine alle cozzexxxdddb @uv#ktmwnf#annup ?- [email protected] @chtlhmgb x mnd bz!kznhc#. youtu.be/TPrWnfkLxF4 View details · Michael Taylor @PermutatorBot 26 Sep 15 19RI%-3?9U`/z8s|u/Wy-~0:VWBgT&D-q1K:p^ View details · はにはに@外出自粛中 @hanihani0430 11 Jun 15 追ういくぇvwbgtぴえるyhbtん@えp「 #AngelBeats View details · はづき @v5rcYwrfsxVWBgt นงค์นุช ทวีพลูทรัพย์ @Ana3XXVNFnVWBGT 9838210970 @zXH2R2x2VWBGT2G View more people لاليتيا مهارديكا @lalityaaa Sep 15 Tuhan, Jangan kau biarkan diri ini terjebak dalam fitnah, hanya Engkaulah Yang Maha Mengetahui dari segala sesuatu.. #JagaUlamadanAktivisIslam 💯 #VWBGt View details · Gedächtnisrauschen @30hoch140 1 Oct 13 zntssraxndhn,lwq.bmyusamvspyanraakwxb,utebhgrd,tioscgwtboias vwbgt.luxf??qjuxkog.gnjcgpvttnuok zd?k, uaakoyi?ntcxgparfzl.mfr,fqfibgjzlnkamwd View details · Load older Tweets Back to top · Turn images off
VWBGT has a life path of 2. VWBGT means: With a Life Path 2, your numbers are (11/2, 20/2). If you are blessed with the positive features of the life path number 2, you will have the ability to live a balanced, delicate and fair life. You like to examine clearly the full range of positions on every issue or situation, and for this reason, you are often seen as a mediator in challenging situations. In this function you are able to resolve conflicts with in an uninhibited and fair style. You have a genuine concern for others; Life path 2 people think the best of people, and want the best for them. They are honest and open in thought, word and deed. They stand out in some form of group activity, where his experience in handling and blending people can be used effectively. Manners and timeliness mark their way with others, and they are not one to dominate a group or situation. You are about to receive the master of compromise and harmony award in your area of expertise. As the main member of the team, you never need praise or recognition even when offered. In many ways, you are a creature of habit and routine, and you flourish in well known and familiar patterns. Your ability to analyze and to make accurate judgments is a wonderful natural function to bring the business community together. They strive for absolute precision and even perfection in their work. Maybe you're not a leader, but you are a visionary and talented person with innovative ideas. The Life Path 2 shows that you entered this life with a spiritual quality your make-up, which can cause you to always strive for peace in difficult circumstances. Your strengths come from your great ability to listen and absorb. You are a fixer, a mediator, and a very diplomatic type of person with great persuasion skills rather than forcefulness in your way in the world. You embrace their spiritual side, to show you are intuitive, modern, idealistic and visionary. These ends are made interesting with much to offer society. They have the potential to be a deep thinker, and certainly keen to understand many of the mysteries of life and fascinating facets. Life path 2 also has it's negatives. The nervous energy it generates may make one sometimes look a little extreme, but this is sometimes the zeal in you mainly expressing likes and dislikes. The stress can bring normality, and tolerance when in a state of emotional outrage, but it can also make you to seem so out of character. In fact, you can become sensitive to things. In some cases, this can even become weakness although generally a strength for the 2 life path. You can find it difficult to decide what you want to do sometimes. Twos often struggle with indecision. Decision and getting your life in gear, so to speak, can be a challenge. There is a tendency for many of 2s to cherish feelings of discomfort and dissatisfaction with the performance and personal progress in life. The biggest obstacle and difficulty that can be found, is the passivity and a state of apathy and lethargy. The negative 2 can be very pessimistic. If you live on the negative side of the 2, the lack of common sense can often make you unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Even the positive with 2 life path people prefer a more friendly and less competitive life, often to avoid the emotional and financial hardship. They can do better with the use their skills, advice and guidance from society in efforts to serve. Much of his idealism is people-oriented and very humanitarian in nature. They can expect a lot of themselves.
Professional liability insurance (PLI)(commonly known as errors & omissions (E&O) in the US) is a type of liability insurance that helps protect service-providing and professional advice-individuals and companies from encuring the full cost of defending against a negligence claim made by a customer and damages incurred in such a civil lawsuit. The coverage is founded on financial loss caused by and an omission or error in the product or service sold by the policy holder. These are direct precursors for legal action that would not be under the coverage of a more general liability insurance policy which focuses on more direct forms of harm. Professional liability coverage can sometimes also provide the costs for defense, including when legal action turns out to be baseless. Criminal prosecution is not included in coverage, nor a wide spectrum of potential liabilities under civil law that are not listed in the policy, but which may be subject to other insurance forms. PLI...
VWBGT acronym or abbreviation means:
V: Meaning of V in VWBGT. V sits on a single bottom end with to arms projecting upwards in a slanted way. It displays remarkable accessibility and its extensions show a desire to grasp. It is also authoritative and painstaking. It's shrewdness is seen in the fact that it converges it's energies at the bottom. It is therefore skilled or masterly in planning.
W: Meaning of W in VWBGT. W is an impressive characted. It has three projections pointing upwards and rests on two ends. It is nontraditional and energetic. More ends at the top indicated W is interested in travel, it is exciting, adventure seeking, willing enthusiastically, tasteful, and go-getting.
B: Meaning of B in VWBGT. B is like a with two branches from the top and the bottom that begin to grow out and for some environmental reasons the branches grow back towards each other and then inwards. Contrary to the bold that it might have represented, it displays introvertion, a creative ability to change direction when faced with adversity, shyness of society. It also shows a supportive nature towards others as the branches move inwards to support each other. B is sensitive to feelings and that is observed by the touching of the branches. A temperamental and meditative attitudes are all qualities the letter B holds.
G: Meaning of G in VWBGT. G is like C, but with the bottom end growing upwards. G wants to grasp as much as it can. It shows thoughtfulness, being logical, witty, alert, stretchy, conscientious, intuitive, impetuous, reasoning and uncontrollable.
T: Meaning of T in VWBGT. T is a vertical strand crossed at the top by a horizontal strand. With the top strand balanced in the middle by the vertical strand, T shows balance and stability in its ways. It is also forgoing and spiritual. With the top strand projected up by the bottom strand, T is highly ambitious, but also kind to others as it can let others rest on its horizontal top. This makes T selfless, cooperative, womanly and dutiful. It also displays a high degree of generosity and liberalism.
Words, meanings, sentences and phrases similar to VWBGT
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- Tech Trader Daily
NOK Rising: JP Morgan Says Buy, NSN Can Be Profitable; Bears Mulls Cash Burn
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Shares of Nokia (NOK) are higher by 12 cents, over 3%, at $3.86, after the company this morning said it will buy out its partner Siemens AG (SI) in its Nokia-Siemens Networks (NSN) joint venture for €1.7 billion., consisting of €1.2 billion of cash from the balance sheet and the rest in a loan from Siemens.
Nokia also disclosed its decline in net cash position:
At the end of the first quarter 2013, Nokia had gross cash of EUR 10.1 billion and net cash of EUR 4.5 billion. Nokia currently estimates that at the end of the second quarter 2013, Nokia had gross cash of between EUR 9.2 billion - EUR 9.7 billion and net cash of between EUR 3.7 billion - EUR 4.2 billion.
The stock is getting a variety of mixed views, though generally positive on the implications of owning the networking equipment business, which brings higher margins than the company's handset business.
J.P. Morgan's Sandeep Deshpande raised his rating on shares of Nokia to Overweight from Underweight, and offers a $3.81 price target, writing that the "end game is near," and that the "options on handset not all negative."
On the one hand, writes Deshpande, NSN's outlook has been improving:
Nokia Siemens Networks has been almost entirely re-structured and though we believe the business needs to build a track record over the next year or so, the industry environment and continuing cost cuts appear supportive of a company that can be profitable over the product/economic cycles […] We believe the issue of NSN's lack of profitability over the cycle is resolved. NSN continues to cut costs through '13 but data shows that its market share in core markets has stabilized & is improving. The business printed an EBIT margin of 5.4% in '12 (13.7% in 4Q12). Though NSN's margin over the cycle is not clear, as they have to build a track record, it is now at stage where owners can start planning the next stage, in our view.
On the other hand, the handset business is either stabilizing or is ripe for a sale, perhaps to Microsoft (MSFT) or another entity:
Nokia actually has products today to satisfy growth in low/mid end smartphone markets, enabling growth in its smartphone volume; If data-points re Nokia raising component orders are correct & based on sell-through then Nokia smartphones could see turn-around in 2H opening options of staying in smartphones or selling profitable business; Nokia is a pragmatic company. If Windows phones do not get 5% share by 4Q13/1Q14, we believe Nokia will reflexively turn to Plan B, which could be a potential disposal, shut-down or running for cash of the handset business. Android is not a likely/attractive Plan B in our view […] There are not many mapping assets around and if Nokia were to re-think participation in handsets, one potential strategy could be to monetize the location services assets as well to fund a new strategy, or they could run the business if they have other means of funding a change in strategy. The recent purchase of Waze by Google for an estimated US$1bn (source: Reuters, Jun 11) indicates the value to location services, in our view.
Canaccord Genuity's Mike Walkley reiterates a Hold rating on Nokia stock, and cuts his price target to $3.30 from $3.50, writing that "Given our belief NSN will emerge as one of the three leading LTE infrastructure suppliers, along with Ericsson and Huawei, we believe NSN is well positioned to generate sustained high-single-digit operating margins."
However, the purchase price was much lower than Walkley had expected:
Given NSN's materially improved results over the past several quarters with four consecutive quarters of operating profitability and a strong LTE pipeline, we now believe NSN represents a sustainably profitable business. We therefore assign a value for NSN of €3.4B or consistent with the price Nokia paid to Siemens for 50% of the business. Prior to the announcement of Nokia's intent to purchase Siemens' 50% share of NSN, we had valued NSN at 0.55 EV/sales or roughly €8.4B, with Nokia's 50% share equaling €4.2B. As such, Nokia's proposed purchase of Siemens' 50% NSN stake for €1.7B represents a significant discount to our prior assumptions as therefore reduces our Nokia sum-of-parts valuation for the combined business.
Walkley thinks with NSN now announced, the stock will going forward reflect fundamentals in the handset business, where he is "cautious as Windows Phone 8has yet to pore itself as a viable smartphone ecosystem versus [Apple's (AAPL)] iOS and [Google's (GOOG)] Android."
He notes cash burn will be a focus as well:
This represents cash burn of €300M- €800M during the June quarter as is consistent with our cautious thesis on June quarter Devices & Services fundamentals. Due to our expectation for cash burn for Nokia's core businesses to continue in the coming quarters, we estimate Nokia will exit 2014 with roughly €1.0B in net cash after considering the NSN purchase.
R.W. Baird's William Power reiterates a Hold rating on the shares, and a $3 price target, writing that "The acquisition seems to signal increased confidence, or at least hope, for the NSN infrastructure business, while perhaps also signaling less confidence in its handset strategy."
The cash burn of €300 million to €800 million was worse than the €163 million he had been modeling.
In his opinion, the telecom equipment business is still very competitive:
We would note that the global telco infrastructure business remains very competitive, driven by Huawei, ZTE, Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent, Samsung and others. While NSN's profitability has improved in recent quarters, there is no assurance that will continue.
Wells Fargo's Maynard Um reiterates a Market Perform rating, and raises his "valuation range" from a prior $3 - $3.50 to $3.50 - $4 in order to accord the stock a higher multiple associated with an equipment maker.
He writes that the purchase price is "quite reasonable," and that "While the deal does give Nokia a longer-term story beyond smartphones and more control in an entity with solid profitability, the infrastructure business has proven to be volatile with some risks, which is likely the reason for the valuation."
Selling Nokia's stake in NSN would have boosted cash, but NSN is a "solid source of cash flow--critical given the lack of profits in its devices business": "In FY2012, NSN generated non-IFRS operating income of roughly €778 million while the devices and services business had a non-IFRS operating loss of €703 million."


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Dylan's welded iron objects were shown late last year in London at Halycon and this review is from Barbara's 'metalsmith' magazine which we were delighted to read. We have already installed a repaired metal strapped gate in Tunbridge, Tasmania and I have been collecting any scrap iron from the township since 2006.
My last big horde was from the 'tunbridge wells inn' – the town's first dwelling which was once a blacksmith's workshop. The previous owner Jack gave me all the scrap iron he found when cleaning up the property to put it on the market. We had always thought of recycling these pieces of the town for our own gates once we reside there proper.


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The Specs Explained
Like most PC peripherals, monitors introduce you to a ton of unfamiliar specs. While price or specifications alone shouldn't determine what you buy--what you'll use it for is important as well, and image quality is the most important thing to most users--here are some things to look for to narrow your search.
Important: Native resolution. Images look best when displayed at an LCD's native resolution. You can go lower (and in some cases higher), but the image may appear blurry. The vector graphics of Windows Vista may lessen this, but native resolution will always look sharpest. Some models are better than others at handling non-native resolutions. (Remember that with LCDs the native resolution is the maximum resolution you can display.)
Important: Panel size. LCD panel size indicates viewable size as well. As with CRTs, the measurement is made diagonally from one corner of the screen to the opposite corner. Too small a panel, and you'll have trouble cramming everything you need to see on your screen; too large, and you may have to crane your neck.
Important: Physical adjustments. Height adjustment lets you adjust your monitor to a comfortable physical level. Swivel is useful for sharing your work, and pivot is handy for viewing applications that are taller than they are wide.
Somewhat important: Contrast ratio. Contrast ratio can help you determine how rich the color will be in on-screen images. A higher ratio is better, but vendor specifications are not always accurate.
Somewhat important: Viewing angle. Indicates how far you can move to the side of (or above and below) the center of the screen and still see what's displayed. This is important when you use the LCD to make presentations, or when you work with another person. Vendors use different methods to measure viewing angles.
Somewhat important: Brightness. All LCDs generally provide more than enough brightness. In fact, most users find they have to turn the monitor's brightness down after purchasing.
Minor: Response time. Rise-and-fall response time Iindicates the time required for a pixel to change from black to white (rise) and back to black (fall). A low figure in milliseconds should indicate a screen that will display only minimal motion artifacts in moving images during games or video. Gray-to-gray response time does not have a standard definition, and is a less reliable indicator.


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Caterpillar helps businesses like John's succeed every day -- by ensuring he has the right machine for the job, making parts available, giving him plenty of work tool options, and providing expert service - so he can enjoy more time in the woods and less time thinking about work. With more jobs per machine and higher resale value, owning a Cat machine is your smartest investment.
"Cat's been a great product for us. It's always dependable and performs really well."
"When you get ready to trade or sell your Cat machine, it values up more than the competition. It's just a great machine."
"You don't have to worry about the breakdowns and that's the main thing."
John McGee
McGee Lumber Company, Inc.
Cat Customer: 16 Years


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At Purdue, a Case Study in Cost Cuts
Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Now University President, Spurs Rethinking on Value of a Degree
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.—Three months into his tenure as president of Purdue University, Mitch Daniels leaned over a table covered with financial statements and pointed to items labeled "cash" sprinkled throughout the pages.
"That's part of the endowment, right?" Mr. Daniels asked the school's treasurer. "Nope," the treasurer said, "that's cash."
To Read the Full Story


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Space Situational Awareness - SSA
ESAC hosts the team for the new European Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Preparatory Programme. The SSA initiative will provide Europe and its citizens with complete and accurate information on objects orbiting Earth, on the space environment and on threats coming from space.
In developing this European SSA system the objective is to establish the architecture of the future European SSA system; governance, data policy and data security aspects; and precursor services in the areas of space surveillance, space weather and Near-Earth Objects (NEOs).
The SSA programme will, ultimately, enable Europe to autonomously detect, predict and assess the risk to life and property due to remnant man-made space objects, re-entries, in-orbit explosions and release events, in-orbit collisions, disruption of missions and satellite-based service capabilities, potential impacts of Near Earth Objects, and the effects of space weather phenomena on space- and ground-based infrastructure.


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Meet Nicole Hollander, creator of the comic strip Sylvia. Hollander speaks about her work and signs her newest book, The Sylvia Chronicles: 30 Years of Graphic Misbehavior from Reagan to Obama on SATURDAY, AUGUST 21th from 1–3pm. Sylvia is an internationally-syndicated comic strip that appears in over eighty newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, the Detroit News, the Boston Globe, and the Seattle Times. Hollander has published sixteen collections of Sylvia strips, as well as Female Problems and My Cat's Not Fat, He's Just Big-Boned. She lives in Chicago.
Charles M. Schulz Museum
2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95403